Electro-optic rearview mirror assembly for vehicle

ABSTRACT

An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a front glass substrate having a transparent conductive coating established at a second surface thereof and a rear glass substrate having a metallic reflector coating established at a third surface thereof, with an electro-optic medium disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate. An electrically conductive clip is disposed along and bridges a perimeter edge of the rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductive connection to the metallic reflector coating at the third surface of the rear glass substrate. A solder joint is established at the electrically conductive clip, and the solder is decoupled from the metallic reflector coating at the third surface of the rear glass substrate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/301,417, filed Feb. 4, 2010, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rearview mirror assemblies for vehiclesand, more particularly, to electro-optic reflective element assemblies,such as electrochromic reflective element assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive auto-dimming electrochromic mirror reflective elementassemblies are known and typically include a front substrate and a rearsubstrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween andcontained within an interpane cavity. The front substrate typicallyincludes a transparent conductive coating established at its rearwardsurface (its surface immediately facing the rear substrate and theelectrochromic medium) and the rear substrate typically includes aconductive coating (such as a metallic reflector coating or coatingsand/or a transparent conductive coating or coatings) established at itsfront surface (its surface immediately facing the front substrate andthe electrochromic medium). Electrical connectors are conventionallyprovided, typically as metallic busbar clips that extend substantiallyalong respective edges of the substrates, to provide electrical currentto the conductive coatings to control the dimming or darkening of theelectrochromic medium. Electrical wires or leads are soldered to themetallic busbar clips to connect the busbar clips to the power source orcircuitry of the mirror or vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electro-optic minor reflective elementassembly, such as an electrochromic mirror reflective element assembly,that has electrical connectors for electrically dimming theelectro-optic medium of the reflective element assembly that areprovided in such a way that stresses and/or strains on the glasssubstrate or substrates used are mitigated or reduced, therebymitigating and/or reducing cracking and/or spalling of such glasssubstrates during manufacturing of the mirror assemblies and during useof the mirror assemblies on vehicles driven on roads. In accordance withthe present invention, a metallic reflector coating or layer, typicallydisposed at the third surface of the rear glass substrate (the surfaceof the rear glass substrate that immediately faces the electro-opticmedium disposed between the second surface of the front substrate andthe third surface of the rear substrate) is locally removed (so as tolocally expose a bare glass or non-metallic reflector coated glasssurface thereat) at the region where an electrical solder joint is to beestablished (such as where an electrical lead or wire is soldered to thelikes of an electrical spring clip or connector, such as isconventionally used in the automatic electrochromic rearview mirrorassembly art and such as described in the likes of U.S. Pat. Nos.6,064,509; 6,062,920; 5,202,787; 5,448,397; and/or 6,317,248, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), therebyreducing direct contact of the solder to the metallic reflector coatingon the third surface of the laminate electro-optic reflective elementassembly.

By so locally removing the third surface metallic mirror reflector(and/or by locally masking during formation or deposition of the mirrorreflector itself and/or otherwise electrically insulating or isolatingthe solder joint from the metallic mirror reflector), the locally formedor established solder joint is preferably a solder and glass surfacejoint and so the solder joint is decoupled from and is separate anddistinct from where the metallic reflector is disposed on that thirdsurface of the rear glass substrate of the laminate electro-opticreflective element assembly. Also, by affirmatively locally exposing theglass surface where the solder joint is to be made, the presentinvention reduces or mitigates the stresses and strains at the glasssubstrate that can otherwise lead to local surface imperfections and/orcracks and/or spalling being generated and/or opened up at the glasswhen the electro-optic mirror reflective element assembly ismanufactured and/or mounted and/or used in or on a vehicle (and withsuch imperfections and/or cracks and/or spalling potentially leading tooverall fracturing or breaking of the part, especially when such anelectro-optic mirror reflective element assembly is part of an exteriorrearview mirror assembly that is mounted at a vehicle exterior such thatit is exposed to various stresses and strains including thermal stressesand strains when used in climate extremes or when subjected to the likesof hoop stresses or the like due to mounting the reflective elementwithin a bezel or mounting the reflective element to a mirror holderthat itself is attached to and is movable by an exterior mirroractuator, such as commonly known in the art). The present invention thuslocally removes the metallic third surface reflector at the solder jointof the electrical clip or connector to mitigate or reduce or limit oravoid increased stresses and strains at the glass substrate that mayotherwise lead to glass cracking, fracture and/or spalling and partfailure. It was found that such local removal of the third surfacemirror reflector at the solder joint area or region of the glasssubstrate in accordance with the present invention unexpectedly andsurprisingly significantly mitigates such cracks/spalling at the glasssubstrate.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exterior rearview mirror assemblyincorporating a reflective element assembly in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a glass substrate having a metallicreflector coated surface with the metallic reflector coating removedfrom a portion of a perimeter edge region of the substrate in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the glass substrate of anelectro-optic mirror reflective element with the metallic reflectorcoating removed from the portion of the perimeter edge region of thesubstrate at or near where an electrical lead or wire is soldered to theelectrical clip along the edge of the substrate;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the electro-optic mirror reflectiveelement taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the electro-optic mirror reflectiveelement taken along the line V-V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a glass substrate of an electro-opticmirror reflective element, with an overcoating layer that overcoats themetallic reflector at the region where the electrical lead or wire issoldered to the electrical clip in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a mirror mounting assembly suitable foruse with an interior rearview mirror assembly in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a prismatic interior rearview mirrorassembly including a video display screen in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the prismatic mirror reflective element ofa prismatic interior rearview mirror system of the present invention,shown with the prismatic mirror reflective element in a highreflectivity state or position;

FIG. 10 is another sectional view of the prismatic mirror reflectiveelement of FIG. 9, shown in a reduced reflectivity or anti-glare stateor position; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a vehicle having a plurality of exteriorfacing or viewing cameras and a display screen in accordance with thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In some mirror reflective element assemblies, failures occur due tobreaking or cracking or spalling of the rear substrates at the solderjoint for attaching the wires to the busbar clips along the edge regionof the rear substrate. When soldering to a clip attached to the frontsubstrate with the transparent conductive coating (such as indium tinoxide (ITO) or the like), the solder flows on the clip only and it doesnot wet and bond to the ITO coated surface. The clip thus can be removedfrom the front substrate after the wire is soldered to the clip.However, when soldering to a clip attached to a rear substrate having ametallic mirror reflector coating (such as, for example, a coating ofchromium/ruthenium (Cr/Ru) or the like), the solder flows on the clip aswell as onto the metallic reflector coated surface. The solder thusbonds or couples the clip to the metallic reflector coated substrate, sothat the clip is typically not removable from the glass substratewithout breaking the glass at the area at which the wire is soldered tothe clip. Such coupling of the solder to the metallic reflector also maylead to surface imperfections or spalling or cracking of the glasssubstrate at the region where the solder joint is made. This is becausethe coupling of the clip/solder/metallic reflector (such as Cr—Ru or thelike) puts significant stress at the point of solder or solder jointand, after thermal cycling and/or mechanical vibration, may create aV-notch crack in the glass (or may cause other surface imperfections orspalling or the like at the glass substrate at or near the solderjoint). Such surface and/or edge flaws may result in a crack thatpropagates in the rear substrate with thermal and mechanical stresses,leading to part failure of the mirror reflective element assembly whenused on a vehicle.

Also, the flow of solder onto the metallic coating may be much moreefficient in transferring heat onto the glass substrate. This may besignificant since a one degree F. change in temperature between tworegions on a glass substrate can induce as much as 50 psi of stress.Soldering is typically done at about 600 or 700 degrees F. for about twoto three seconds. During the soldering process, even if 200 degrees F.is transferred by the flow of solder onto the metallic coating, thestresses imparted by such a temperature change at that area may exceedthe typical strength of annealed sodalime glass, which typically breaksat around 8000 psi.

Thus, in order to reduce such cracks or flaws or failures at the rearglass substrate of the likes of a laminate type electrochromic exteriorrearview mirror assembly, the present invention provides an assemblyprocess that decouples the clip-solder from the metallic reflectorcoating (such as a Cr—Ru coating or the like). For example, the presentinvention may establish a localized area of the glass substrate at ornear or adjacent to the solder point or solder joint that is devoid ofthe metallic reflector coating, such as by masking the area of the glasssubstrate at or near the point of solder during the coating ordeposition process, or by laser deletion of the metallic reflectorcoating from the glass substrate at or near or adjacent to the point ofsolder, or by masking the metallic reflector coating at the solder jointarea after deposition of the coating, such as with a high temperaturetape or the like, at or near or adjacent to the point of solder, or byproviding a clip that limits or substantially precludes the flow ofsolder from the solder point to the metallic reflector coated glasssubstrate, or by soldering the wire to the metallic busbar clip beforethe clip is attached to the glass substrate, or by contaminating thesolder joint at the metallic reflector coating such that when the clipis attached, the solder does not wet the metallic reflector coatedsurface. Although described as having a chromium-ruthenium coating, thepresent invention is suitable on glass substrates having other types ofmetallic coatings, such as, for example, coatings that comprise one ormore of chromium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, nickel, aluminum,molybdenum, palladium, platinum, stainless steel and/or the like oralloys of such metallic coatings or any other conductive coating(metallic or oxide) that has an affinity for solder flow, whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an exterior rearview mirror assembly 10 is mounted at anexterior portion 12 a of a vehicle 12 (such as at a side door of thevehicle) via a mounting arm or portion 14 (FIG. 1). Mirror assembly 10includes an electro-optic reflective element 16 (such as anelectrochromic reflective element assembly) and a housing or casing 18.The reflective element assembly 16 is electrically connected to acircuit element or circuitry (such as a printed circuit board or thelike within the mirror casing or at the vehicle) that is electricallypowered to control the dimming or darkening of the reflective elementassembly 16, as discussed below. Although shown as incorporated in anexterior rearview mirror assembly, aspects of the present invention maybe suitable for use in interior rearview mirror assembly applications,while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The reflective element 16 includes a front glass substrate 20 and a rearglass substrate 22 (FIGS. 2-5), with an electro-optic medium 21 (such asan electrochromic medium) disposed therebetween (and sealed or containedwithin the interpane cavity between the glass substrates via a perimeterseal 23, such as in a known manner). The front substrate 20 has a frontor first surface 20 a (that is viewable by a driver of a vehicle whenthe mirror assembly is normally mounted at the vehicle) and a rear orsecond surface 20 b (opposite the first surface of the front substrate),with a transparent conductive coating 25 (such as an indium tin oxide(ITO) coating or the like) established on the second or rear surface 20b of the front substrate 20 and with the second surface 20 b facing theelectro-optic medium 21. The rear substrate 22 has a front or thirdsurface 22 a (facing the electro-optic medium 21 disposed between thefront and rear substrates) and a rear or fourth surface 22 b (oppositethe third surface of the rear substrate), with a metallic reflectorcoating 24 (such as a transflective display-on-demand reflector coatingthat is partially transmissive of light therethrough and partiallyreflective of light incident thereon) established at the third surface22 a of rear substrate 22. The metallic reflector coating 24 maycomprise any suitable metallic conductive coatings or layers and maycomprise a single layer or multiple layers of coatings (such as a stackof metallic layers and transparent conductive layers and/or the like),without affecting the scope of the present invention. An electricalconnector 27 is electrically conductively connected to the transparentconductive coating 25 at the second surface of front substrate 20 (suchas along an upper region of the front substrate in FIGS. 4 and 5, but itcould be at or along another region or regions of the front substratewithout affecting the scope of the present invention), and anotherelectrical connector 26 is electrically conductively connected to themetallic reflector coating 24 at third surface 22 a of rear substrate 22(such as along a lower region of the rear substrate in FIGS. 4 and 5,but it could be at or along another region or regions of the rearsubstrate without affecting the scope of the present invention), wherebyelectrical power is supplied to the coatings 25, 24 via electricallyconductive wires or leads 28 that are attached or connected to theconnectors 27, 26 to vary the degree of dimming or darkening of theelectro-optic medium, such as in a known manner.

Electrical connector 26 comprises an elongated clip or busbar connectorthat receives the perimeter edge region 22 b of the glass substrate 22at or in a plurality of clip portions or spring clips 26 a and spans orbridges the perimeter edge of the rear glass substrate to establishelectrically conductive connection to the metallic reflector coating atthe third surface of the rear glass substrate. The clip portions 26 a(such as a flexible spring clip that clamps around the edge of thesubstrate such as is known in the art) receive and clip and/or clamponto the edge region 22 b of the glass substrate 22 and contact themetallic reflector coating 24 so as to establish electrical conductivityto the reflector coating 24, and the clip portions may include prongs orteeth to bite into the coating 24 at the third surface 22 a of glasssubstrate 22 to enhance electrical conductive continuity between thecoating and the connector and to enhance retention of the connector atthe glass substrate. Such connectors or clips thus provide a spring-likeribbon edge connector that is typically formed by extrusion of the likesof a copper/beryllium alloy or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the metallic reflector coating 24 may belocally removed or not present at a perimeter edge region 22 c of glasssubstrate 22. The locally removed area or region 22 c coincides with oris adjacent to or at the portion 26 b of the electrical connector 26 atwhich the electrically conductive wire 28 is attached, such as viasolder 30 or the like. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 3-5, theconnector or clip 26 contacts the third surface metallic reflectorcoating 24 along the connecting region or perimeter edge region (via theclip portions 26 a receiving and clamping on the edge region of thesubstrate) and remote from where the wire 28 is attached or soldered tothe connector 26. Preferably, the area or region 22 c that is devoid ofthe metallic coating encompasses a portion of the third surface of theglass substrate and the perimeter edge dimension of the glass substrate,and if any metallic coating is established at the fourth or rear surfaceof the rear substrate, the devoid area preferably also encompasses thearea of the rear surface that is at or near or adjacent to the solderpoint or joint. Thus, any solder that flows onto the clip and toward andto the glass surface may be disposed at the region 22 c where themetallic reflector coating or coatings is/are locally removed and thusmay not contact and bond or attach to the metallic reflector coating.Although the third surface metallic reflector is shown in FIG. 5 asterminating at the perimeter seal, the third surface metallic reflectormay extend outboard of the seal or may terminate within the seal or thelike, so long as it does not encompass the region at which the solderjoint is made.

The present invention thus avoids a basic concern with such clamps orclips on glass substrates with wires soldered thereat, with such basicconcern being that the metallic busbar clip that is attached to theglass edge typically has teeth to bite into the coatings and glasssubstrate and has openings through the clip to allow for bending orflexing of the clip in situations where the clip may have to bend aroundsharp corners of a glass substrate. The openings in the clip may allowfor the solder, when in its molten or liquid state during soldering ofthe wire to the clip, to flow through the clip and contact or wet themetallic coating at the surface of the glass substrate. The solderingprocess thus may substantially heat the glass via heating of themetallic reflector coating and may couple the clip, glass (with themetallic coating established at a surface thereof) and cured solder,which may lead to damage of the glass substrate.

Typically, there are imperfections in the glass edge caused by thecutting, seaming and handling of the glass substrate. As can be seen inFIGS. 4-6, the spring-like ribbon edge connector or clip 26 (such asconventionally used as edge conductive busbars on the likes of exteriorelectrochromic rearview mirror reflective elements and especially wherethe mirror reflective element is included in a plastic bezel, such asmirror assembly as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,824, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety) receives an edgeregion of the glass substrate therein and applies a spring-like pressureon both the front and rear surfaces of the glass substrate. Suchpressure, such as via teeth or prongs on the spring-like ribbon edgeconnector clip, may bite into the glass surface or surfaces to retainthe clip at the glass substrate. Furthermore, the act of soldering,where the likes of a soldering iron or the like is used to locally heatthe metallic clip where the solder joint is being formed, inevitably,both by heat conduction/convention and by solder flow onto the glasssurface and edge of the glass substrate at the solder joint beingformed, further exacerbates and potentially further opens up localizedhairline cracks/imperfections and/or the like at the glass edge and/orsurface of the glass substrate. Although usually not visible at the timeof initial manufacture of the reflective element assembly (such asimmediately after soldering the wire to the clip or busbar), quantitiesof exterior electrochromic mirror elements utilized on vehicles maydevelop local or full cracks at least partially across the substratesurface or solder joint area and thus lead to warranty returns andproduct rejections. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, we find thataffirmative removal of the reflector coating locally to the area of thethird surface at where the solder joint is to be established greatlymitigates/reduces such cracks/imperfections at the glass substrate.

The flow of solder is a very efficient process of transferring heat(under normal manufacturing processes, the manual soldering takes about2 to 3 seconds per side). If the solder stays on the clip and does notwet the coated glass substrate, some heat is transferred to the glass,but if the solder flows onto and wets the metallic coating or layer,this will increase the heat transfer to the glass substrate. Becauseevery one degree F. in heat change between two points on a glasssubstrate may result in 50 psi of stress to the glass substrate, andbecause normal soldering is done at around 600 to 700 degrees F., andbecause normal annealed glass has a strength of 8000 psi (this strengthdepends on the edge quality), even if a portion of the solder heat (suchas, for example, around 300 degrees F.) is transferred during thesoldering process (such as via the molten solder flowing onto themetallic coating on the glass substrate), the stresses to the glass canreadily exceed the 8000 psi strength of the glass substrate and thuslead to cracks and failures in the glass substrates.

The coupling of the clip, solder and glass also can impart additionalstresses at the point or location of the solder or solder joint. Theseadditional stresses can cause edge chips during thermal cycling oradditional mechanical vibration and/or other induced stresses duringassembly of the mirror to the backplate and attaching the subassembly tothe mirror housing via the actuator. Other stresses, such as stressesimparted by the mirror actuator, the mirror heater pad turning on andoff, road vibration, snow/ice and/or the like, may also cause damage toa compromised edge and/or surface of a glass substrate. The glassbreakage that occurs due to such stresses is often referred to as a lowstress failure, which typically is characterized by a single line crackthat starts from one edge and extends toward another edge. In contrast,a high stress crack would typically show many lines of crack from astarting point. The low stress crack typically occurs when there is asignificant edge and or surface chip/crack on the glass substrate. Thus,it has been unexpectedly and surprisingly found that such low stresscracks may be mitigated or reduced or limited by decoupling theclip/solder/glass joint, which may reduce chips and/or cracks at theperimeter edge region at or near or adjacent to the solder joint,thereby reducing part failures on vehicles.

Optional decoupling means or processes or configurations may include,for example, providing a means of eliminating the coating at or near oradjacent to the edge at the point of soldering. Typically, the solderingor solder joint extends or covers a length of about 8 mm to about 10 mmor thereabouts along the edge of the glass substrate. The uncoatedsurface and edge (devoid of the metallic coating) may comprise an areaslightly larger than the soldering area to compensate for normalmanufacturing variations (such as, for example, an area that is about 15mm along the edge of the glass substrate). The uncoated area may thus beabout 15 mm long (or longer or shorter) and about 4 mm wide (or wider ornarrower). This uncoated area should be smaller than the bezel width soas to be substantially non-viewable by a person viewing the assembledmirror assembly when the mirror assembly is normally mounted at avehicle.

Optionally, the decoupling process may involve masking the glass suchthat no coating is deposited on the glass surface and on the glass edge(and no coating should be on the rear surface of the glass substrate aswell, so that both surfaces and the glass edge dimension are devoid ofthe metallic coating at or near or adjacent to the solder point) toestablish an exposed glass surface/edge at the solder joint area, or theprocess may involve any suitable means of localized removal of thecoating after the coating operation (such as via laser ablation,chemical etching or removal, mechanical removal and/or the like), or theprocess could involve depositing a mask prior to coating and washing themask off after the deposition. Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 6,the decoupling may be achieved by depositing a coating or overcoating32′ that does not have affinity for solder flow at or near or adjacentto the area or point of solder 30′ (where the solder attaches the leador wire 28′ to the clip 26′) and on top of the metallic coating 24′ thathas affinity for solder flow. As shown in FIG. 6, the overcoating 32′overlaps the third surface metallic reflector coating 24′ at the solderregion and may overlap the perimeter edge dimension 22 d′ of the rearsubstrate 22′ and optionally may overlap the fourth surface 22 b′, suchas if the fourth surface 22 b′ is coated with a coating that has anaffinity for solder flow, while remaining within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention). Optionally, another approach may apply a mask ora solder resist post coating at the area adjacent to the solder point tolimit or substantially preclude or stop the solder from flowing onto andwetting the metallic layer. For example, such an approach may involveputting/wiping a “contaminant” or separating layer or shielding layeronto the metallic layer at the point of soldering to stop the solderfrom flowing onto the metallic layer. Suitable compounds for such a“contaminant” may include, for example, Boron nitride, oils, greases,and/or the like, or optionally a tape material, such as Kapton tape orthe like may be applied as a contaminant or shield or separating layerto separate the solder from the metallic coating. Optionally, the clipmay be designed or configured to limit or substantially preclude theflow of solder through or around the clip at the solder point (such asby forming the clip such that there are no openings in the clip at thepoint of soldering) or adding a tape or an insert to block the openingsin the clip. Optionally, the decoupling process or approach may involvesoldering the wires to the clips off the glass substrate, such as beforethe clips are attached to the glass substrate.

Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise an interiorrearview mirror assembly that is adjustably mounted to or attached to orat an interior portion or surface of the vehicle, such as to an in-cabinsurface of the vehicle windshield, such as via a mirror mounting buttonor the like adhered to the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield.The mirror reflective element may comprises a mirror reflective elementas described above, or may comprise any suitable prismatic orelectro-optic mirror reflective element. The mirror assembly may beadjustably mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle via anysuitable mounting assembly or mounting configuration, such as a mountingassembly that utilizes aspects of the mounting assemblies orconfigurations described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,593,565;6,690,268; 6,540,193; 4,936,533; 5,820,097; 5,100,095; 7,249,860;6,877,709; 6,329,925; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; and/or 6,483,438, and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1236), and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2010/028130, filed Mar. 22, 2010 and published Sep. 30, 2010 asInternational Publication No. WO 2010/111173, and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 61/351,377, filed Jun. 4, 2010 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1616); and/or Ser. No. 61/426,328, filed Dec. 22, 2010 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1667), which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

Optionally, the mounting assembly may comprise an impact absorbingmounting assembly to at least partially absorb an impact to the interiorrearview mirror assembly, such as during a vehicle collision or thelike. For example, and with reference to FIG. 7, a mounting assembly 110may include a dampening element or bushing 112 that functions to absorbimpact. In the illustrated embodiment, the double ball mounting assembly110 includes a base portion or mirror mount 114 (with a ball member 114a established thereat), which attaches at the in-cabin surface of thevehicle windshield via attachment to a mirror mounting button or thelike, such as in a known manner. Mirror mounting assembly 110 includes amounting arm 116 that receives ball member 114 a at one end and receivesbushing 112 at the opposite end, with a spring or biasing element 118disposed between the bushing 112 and a receiving element 120 at ballmember 114 a. A ball stud 122 includes a stud or stem 122 a that isreceived in and through bushing 112 and is substantially secured orretained therein, such as via a tight or “super-tight” fit between therigid ball stud (such as a ball stud comprising a die cast metal or arigid plastic or polymeric material) and the bushing 112 (such as abushing comprising a soft or hard polyurethane or molded plastic orother resilient/somewhat elastomeric polymeric material). The ball stud122 includes a ball member 122 b that is pivotally received in a mirrorhead socket 124 to pivotally attach the mirror head to the ball stud 122and to the mounting assembly 110.

Thus, the double ball mounting system utilizes a bushing and a die-castor very rigid plastic ball stud piece. The bushing and ball stud may bepre-assembled and have a super-tight fit, and then are assembled to themounting arm 116 and mirror head socket 124 in a manner similar to knownconstructions. During normal use and adjustment of the mirror headrelative to the interior portion of the vehicle, the mounting assemblyhas no affect on the performance and adjustment of the mirror assembly.During an impact with the mirror assembly, the ball stud may push intothe arm or tube assembly and the bushing may damp the motion to absorbmuch of the energy. The mirror head socket 124 or the mirror ball 122 bwould then bottom out at or contact the bushing to limit or stop thetravel of the ball stud and mirror head toward the mounting arm andmounting base and interior portion of the vehicle. Optionally, anddesirably, the interface between the bushing and the mounting arm andbetween the bushing and the ball stud would be sufficiently strong tolimit or substantially preclude pull out of the ball stud from thebushing and pull out of the bushing from the mounting arm (such as witha target pull out force that is greater than the current tensile crimpstrength). Optionally, a bushing such as described above may beimplemented in a single ball or single pivot mounting assembly orsystem, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

The interior mirror assembly or assemblies discussed herein may comprisean electro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly and may include anelectro-optic or electrochromic reflective element. The electrochromicmirror element of the electrochromic mirror assembly may utilize theprinciples disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,813,023;7,310,178; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 6,690,268;5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360;5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012;5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/029173, filed Mar. 30, 2010 andpublished on Oct. 7, 2010 as International Publication No. WO2010/114825, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, and/or as disclosed in the following publications: N. R.Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAE TechnicalPaper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows forAutomobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam andA. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”, LargeArea Chromogenics Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M.Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS, Optical Engineering Press, Wash.(1990), which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties. Optionally, the electrochromic circuitry and/or a glaresensor (such as a rearward facing glare sensor that receives light fromrearward of the mirror assembly and vehicle through a port or openingalong the casing and/or bezel portion and/or reflective element of themirror assembly) and circuitry and/or an ambient light sensor andcircuitry may be provided on one or more circuit boards of the mirrorassembly.

Optionally, the reflective element may include a metallic perimeter bandaround the perimeter of the reflective element, such as by utilizingaspects of the reflective elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,626,749; 7,274,501; 7,184,190; and/or 7,255,451, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1236), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. Optionally, the perimeter band may comprise a chromeor chromium coating or metallic coating and may comprise achrome/chromium or metallic coating that has a reduced reflectance, suchas by using an oxidized chrome coating or chromium oxide coating or“black chrome” coating or the like (such as by utilizing aspects of themirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,184,190 and/or7,255,451, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties). Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise aframeless reflective element (such as a frameless exterior mirrorassembly or a frameless interior mirror assembly), such as by utilizingaspects of the reflective elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,626,749; 7,360,932; 7,255,451; 7,274,501; and/or 7,184,190, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 and published onDec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/10377282; and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1236); and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun.13, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123); and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/32017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published on Oct. 28, 2010 asInternational Publication No. WO 2010/124064; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1641(PCT)),which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Optionally, the mirror reflective element of an interior rearview mirrorassembly may comprise a prismatic mirror reflective element or anon-electro-optic mirror reflective element and may be flipped ortoggled between a day reflectivity position and a night or reducedreflectivity position (where the mirror reflector is angled upwardtowards the ceiling of the vehicle cabin and the driver views areflection off of the front surface of the glass mirror substrate, suchas in a known manner. For example, the interior rearview mirror assemblymay comprise a prismatic mirror assembly, such as the types described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,249,860; 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242;4,826,289; 4,436,371; and 4,435,042; and PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, theprismatic reflective element may comprise a conventional prismaticreflective element or prism or may comprise a prismatic reflectiveelement of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,420,756; 7,274,501;7,249,860; 7,338,177; and/or 7,255,451, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRRORREFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004 as InternationalPublication No. WO 2004/026633; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/32017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published on Oct. 28, 2010 asInternational Publication No. WO 2010/124064; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1641(PCT)),and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/525,952, filed Nov. 26,2003, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Avariety of mirror accessories and constructions are known in the art,such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,136; 5,582,383;5,680,263; 5,984,482; 6,227,675; 6,229,319; and 6,315,421 (the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein), thatcan benefit from the present invention.

Optionally, the prismatic mirror assembly may be operable toautomatically tilt or flip between its daytime position and itsnighttime position, such as responsive to a light sensor or the like(such as a photo sensor that detects ambient light and/or glare at ornear the mirror assembly or vehicle and determines that it isappropriate to adjust the reflectivity position of the mirror reflectiveelement accordingly). For example, when the vehicle is driven at night,the mirror system may detect glare (such as from a following vehiclewith its headlights on) and may detect or determine that the mirror headand/or reflective element is/are in the daytime or higher reflectivitystate or position and may automatically flip or rotate or adjust thereflective element to its reduced reflectivity state or anti-glareposition (such as via one or more actuators or motors that function topivot the reflective element and/or mirror head relative to the interiorportion of the vehicle at which the mirror assembly is mounted, such asabout a generally horizontal pivot axis that extends generally laterallyacross the vehicle).

Optionally, in applications with a video display screen at or in theinterior rearview mirror assembly (such as a video display screendisposed behind the prismatic mirror reflective element and displayingvideo images or information for viewing by the driver of the vehiclethrough the prismatic mirror reflective element and through the mirrorreflector, such as a video mirror of the types described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,855,755; 7,626,749; 7,581,859; 7,420,756; 7,338,177; 7,249,860;7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,184,190; and/or 6,690,268, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties), washout orreduced viewability of the displayed images or information may occurduring higher ambient lighting daytime driving conditions, where thereflection of the light incident on the mirror reflector overpowers thelight emanating from the display screen so that washout of the displayedinformation occurs. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 8-10, a videodisplay screen 220 (preferably backlit via a plurality of whitelight-emitting light emitting diodes) can be utilized with a prismaticinterior rearview mirror element 224 in an interior rearview mirrorassembly 222, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assembliesdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/578,732, filed Oct. 14,2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1564), and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/32017, filed Apr. 22, 2010 and published on Oct. 28, 2010 asInternational Publication No. WO 2010/124064; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/51741, filed Oct. 7, 2010 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-1641(PCT)),which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Such a prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly typicallyis provided with a toggle 226, which is a manually operated day-nightflip mechanism, so that, when driving at night, the driver may flip themirror to a night or anti-glare position (FIG. 10), where reflection offthe angled mirrored second surface 224 b (such as a surface having amirror reflector 225 disposed or coated or established thereat, such asa silver or silicon or ITO/Ag/ITO mirror reflector, and preferably atransflective mirror reflector, and with reflectivity to visible lightgreater than about 60% R, and more preferably greater than about 75% R,and more preferably greater than about 85% R) is directed typicallytowards the roof of the vehicle such that the reflectivity to thedriver's eyes is principally off the bare front glass surface 224 a(such as a glass surface of a glass substrate having a refractive indexaround 1.52 and providing typically about 4 percent reflectivity oflight incident thereon). Optionally, a photosensor-controlled automaticmirror flip or adjust mechanism may be included in the rearview mirrorassembly so that, for example, when daytime ambient lighting is detectedby the photosensor, the mechatronic mechanism automatically flips oradjusts the mirror to the reduced reflectivity or anti-glare positionduring daytime driving, if, after the previous nighttime driving of thevehicle, the orientation of the prism element had been left in the dayor higher reflectivity position (FIG. 9), where the principalreflectivity of light towards the driver's eyes is off of the mirroredsecond surface 224 b. Optionally, for example, the mirror system of thepresent invention may, such as during daytime lighting conditions,operate to automatically flip or adjust the mirror head and/orreflective element to the nighttime or reduced reflectivity state orposition (FIG. 10) to reduce the washout that may otherwise occur at thevideo display screen 220.

Thus, in high ambient daytime lighting conditions and optionallyresponsive to when the video display screen is operating to displayinformation or video images for viewing by the driver of the vehicle(such as during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle where the videodisplay screen functions to display video images captured by a rearwardfacing camera of the vehicle to assist the driver in making thereversing maneuver), the mirror system may adjust the mirror angle toreduce the reflectivity of light at the display screen to reduce ormitigate image washout. Optionally, such an automatic mirror positionadjustment may occur only in situations where (a) the display screen isdisplaying information for viewing by the driver of the vehicle, (b) thelight detected is high enough to cause a threshold degree of washout ofthe displayed images/information, and (c) the mirror reflective elementis in its daytime or greater reflectivity position (such as shown inFIG. 9). The mirror system may detect or determine each of theseconditions and may adjust the mirror head and/or reflective elementaccordingly, so as to provide enhanced viewability of the displayedinformation.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more displays, suchas the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,and/or display-on-demand transflective type displays, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,626,749; 7,581,859; 7,338,177;7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or6,690,268, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filedSep. 14, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1236); and/or Ser. No.10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123), whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, sothat the displays are viewable through the reflective element, while thedisplay area still functions to substantially reflect light, in order toprovide a generally uniform prismatic reflective element even in theareas that have display elements positioned behind the reflectiveelement. The thicknesses and materials of the coatings on thesubstrates, such as on the third surface of the reflective elementassembly, may be selected to provide a desired color or tint to themirror reflective element, such as a blue colored reflector, such as isknown in the art and such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854;6,420,036; and/or 7,274,501, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Optionally, a display and any associated user inputs may be associatedwith various accessories or systems, such as, for example, a tirepressure monitoring system or a passenger air bag status or a garagedoor opening system or a telematics system or any other accessory orsystem of the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessorymodule or console of the vehicle, such as an accessory module or consoleof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 6,877,888;6,824,281; 6,690,268; 6,672,744; 6,386,742; and 6,124,886, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1123), which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

The display may comprise a video display and may utilize aspects of thevideo display devices or modules described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268;7,184,190; 7,274,501; 7,370,983; and/or 7,446,650, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.7,855,755; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1123), which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The video display may be operable todisplay images captured by one or more imaging sensors or cameras at thevehicle. The imaging device and control and image processor and anyassociated illumination source, if applicable, may comprise any suitablecomponents, and may utilize aspects of the cameras and vision systemsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,123,168;7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176; 6,313,454; and6,824,281, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. The camera or camera module may comprise any suitablecamera or imaging sensor, and may utilize aspects of the cameras orsensors described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/091,359, filedApr. 24, 2008 (Attorney Docket MAG04 P-1299); and/or Ser. No.10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 and published Aug. 3, 2006 as U.S. PatentPublication No. US-2006-0171704A1 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1118); and/orU.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The imaging array sensor may comprise anysuitable sensor, and may utilize various imaging sensors or imagingarray sensors or cameras or the like, such as a CMOS imaging arraysensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,715,093;5,877,897; 6,922,292; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642;6,498,620; 5,796,094; 6,097,023; 6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261;6,806,452; 6,396,397; 6,822,563; 6,946,978; 7,339,149; 7,038,577; and7,004,606; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/315,675, filedDec. 22, 2005 and published Aug. 17, 2006 as U.S. Patent Publication No.US-2006-0184297A1, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 and published Aug.3, 2006 as U.S. Patent Publication No. US-2006-0171704A1 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1118); and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/076022,filed Sep. 11, 2008, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/078700, filedOct. 3, 2008, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

The camera module and circuit chip or board and imaging sensor may beimplemented and operated in connection with various vehicularvision-based systems, and/or may be operable utilizing the principles ofsuch other vehicular systems, such as a vehicle headlamp control system,such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094; 6,097,023;6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261; 7,004,606; 7,339,149; and/or 7,526,103,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, a rain sensor, such as the types disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 6,320,176; and/or7,480,149, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, a vehicle vision system, such as a forwardly, sidewardly orrearwardly directed vehicle vision system utilizing principles disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,949,331;6,222,447; 6,302,545; 6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202;6,201,642; 6,690,268; 6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452;6,822,563; 6,891,563; 6,946,978; and/or 7,859,565, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a trailer hitchingaid or tow check system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,005,974, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, a reverse or sideward imaging system, such as for a lanechange assistance system or lane departure warning system or for a blindspot or object detection system, such as imaging or detection systems ofthe types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,881,496; 7,720,580; 7,038,577;5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser.No. 60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30,2004; Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; Ser. No. 60/638,687,filed Dec. 23, 2004, which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties, a video device for internal cabin surveillanceand/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,760,962; 5,877,897; 6,690,268; and/or 7,370,983, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar.9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018-A1 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1123), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, a traffic sign recognition system, a system fordetermining a distance to a leading or trailing vehicle or object, suchas a system utilizing the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,396,397 and/or 7,123,168, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, and/or the like.

Optionally, the display may operate to display video images captured bya plurality of exterior facing cameras of the vehicle, such as arearward facing camera, a forward facing camera and a pair of oppositesideward facing cameras. Such a surround vision system may operate toreceive video feeds from multiple cameras at the equipped vehicle (suchas a rearward facing camera at the rear of the vehicle, one or moreforward facing cameras at the front of the vehicle (such as at the frontfender or bumper of the vehicle) and one or more sideward facing camerasat each of the sides of the vehicle, such as at the side exteriorrearview mirror assemblies of the vehicle) and may process the videoimage data and seamlessly merge the image data or images in the multiplevideo feeds to generate, for display on a single video display screen, asurround view or top-view or panoramic view or “birds-eye” view of thearea at and around the equipped vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects ofthe vision systems described in SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-0655, titled“Panoramic Electronic Rear Vision for Automotive Applications”,published Mar. 1, 1999 by Rich Hicks, Ken Schofield, Paul Tarno and MikeVeiseh, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/508,840, filed Jul.24, 2009, and published Jan. 28, 2010 as U.S. Pat. Publication No. US2010-0020170, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,782,374; 7,592,928; 7,161,616;7,145,519; 6,498,620; and/or 5,670,935, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US10/47256, filed Aug. 31, 2010 (Attorney Docket DON01FP-1631(PCT)), and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/426,328,filed Dec. 22, 2010 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1667), which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the video processor may generate graphic overlays and/orindicia and/or visual aids to assist the driver's interpretation and useof the surround view or similar image displayed on the single videodisplay (preferably this is a video mirror display such as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,416,313; 5,285,060; 6,690,268; 6,902,284; 7,184,190;7,195,381; 7,255,451; 7,274,501; 7,338,177; 7,370,983; 7,490,007;7,540,620; and/or 7,855,755, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123); and/orSer. No. 12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1564),which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, or the single video display may be a center stack or centerconsole display or the like, such as is commonly used innavigation/infotainment systems). Optionally, an image processor orimage processing capability/chip may be included in the video processoror video decoder chip, or may be provided as a separate chip or may beincluded in the likes of a rear backup camera package itself to providea smart rear backup camera that not only captures video images but thatlocal to and integrated with the backup camera assembly itself, imageprocesses the captured video images for purposes of object detection,pedestrian detection, obstacle detection and the like, such as via thelikes of an EyeQ2™ chip available from MobilEye of Jerusalem, Israel.The image processor so provided may be operable for machine visionanalysis of the multiple video feeds/merged composite image so as toperform functions such as vehicle detection in the vicinity of theequipped vehicle, pedestrian detection in the vicinity of the equippedvehicle and/or object detection in the vicinity of the equipped vehicle.In the likes of a birds-eye or top-view surround vision display system,the video decoder may generate an iconistic or cartoon-likerepresentation of the equipped vehicle in a central dead space of thedisplayed image, with the top-view/birds-eye view merged video imagesdisplayed therearound so that the driver of the equipped vehicle canreadily discern the side views from the front and rear views and therear view from the front view. The video processor may receive the videofeeds from the multiple cameras via any link or communication means,such as via a twisted wire cable carrying standard video analog formats(such as NTSC or PAL or the like), or may receive digital signals suchas via an LVDS protocol or an Ethernet protocol or via a MOST fiberoptical link or the like. Optionally, and desirably, the intensity orbrightness or contrast of the video display screen may be automaticallyadjusted in response to an ambient light sensor or glare detector, suchas a sensor of the display screen device, such as a photosensor of thedisplay screen device, or of the interior rearview mirror assembly orvehicle or of a console or module or the like, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,690 and/or 5,193,029, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, and for example, with reference to FIG. 11, a vehicle 310may include a rearward facing or viewing camera 312, a forward facing orviewing camera 314, a driver side camera 316 and a passenger side camera318, and a video display 320 (such as a video display disposed at ornear the interior rearview mirror assembly 322 of the vehicle) may beoperable to display video images captured by one or more of the exteriorfacing or viewing cameras 312, 314, 316, 318. The display 320 maydisplay a birds-eye view of the vehicle and/or may provide other displayfunctions, such as video display of the images captured by the rearand/or side cameras, such as to assist the driver of the vehicle duringa reversing maneuver of the vehicle.

Optionally, the captured images or image data captured by the exteriorfacing or viewing cameras may be processed to determine ambient and/orglare lighting at or around the vehicle, and an auto dimming function ofa rearview mirror system of the vehicle may, responsive to imageprocessing of the captured image data, control or adjust the dimming ordarkening of the mirror reflective element of the interior rearviewmirror assembly and/or exterior rearview mirror assemblies. The presentinvention thus provides for utilizing exterior facing/viewing cameras(implemented on the vehicle for video displays and the like) for glaresensing in cooperation with auto dimming mirrors. By using software toanalyze the images captured by the exterior facing camera or cameras,decisions can be better made to dim each of the mirrors (for example,the interior rearview mirror, the driver side exterior rearview mirrorand the passenger side exterior rearview mirror) independently withoutsignificant additional expense (since the cameras are already used onthe vehicle for other applications). Optionally, the auto dimmingfunction may utilize the rearward facing camera and may receive a signalindicative of the glare condition and/or ambient lighting condition atthe rear of the vehicle and may adjust or control the dimming of one ormore of the rearview mirrors accordingly. Optionally, the auto dimmingfunction may utilize two or more of the exterior facing cameras (andoptionally each of the exterior facing cameras may play a role indetermining the ambient and/or glare lighting conditions at or aroundthe vehicle), whereby the image data captured by each of the cameras maybe processed to determine the lighting condition at or near that camera,and whereby the degree of dimming or darkening of one or more of themirror reflective elements may be adjusted or controlled responsive tosuch image processing.

Optionally, the circuit board or chip may include circuitry for a cameraor imaging array sensor and/or other electronic accessories or features,such as by utilizing compass-on-a-chip or EC driver-on-a-chip technologyand aspects such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451 and/or U.S.Pat. No. 7,480,149; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628,filed Sep. 14, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1236); and/or Ser. No.12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1564), whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include user inputs that maycomprise buttons or switches for controlling or activating/deactivatingone or more electrical accessories or devices of or associated with themirror assembly. The mirror assembly may comprise any type of switchesor buttons, such as touch or proximity sensing switches, such as touchor proximity switches of the types described above, or the inputs maycomprise other types of buttons or switches, such as those described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; 6,627,918; 6,690,268;7,224,324; 7,249,860; 7,253,723; 7,255,451; 7,360,932; and/or 7,446,924,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123), and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/576,550, filed Oct. 12, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1562), whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, orsuch as fabric-made position detectors, such as those described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,504,531; 6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258; and6,369,804, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Optionally, the user inputs or buttons may comprise user inputs for agarage door opening system, such as a vehicle based garage door openingsystem of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771;7,023,322; and 5,798,688, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The user inputs may also or otherwisefunction to activate and deactivate a display or function or accessory,and/or may activate/deactivate and/or commence a calibration of acompass system of the mirror assembly and/or vehicle. The compass systemmay include compass sensors and circuitry within the mirror assembly orwithin a compass pod or module at or near or associated with the mirrorassembly. Optionally, the user inputs may also or otherwise compriseuser inputs for a telematics system of the vehicle, such as, forexample, an ONSTAR® system as found in General Motors vehicles and/orsuch as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154;5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688; 5,971,552; 5,924,212; 6,243,003;6,278,377; and 6,420,975; 6,477,464; 6,946,978; 7,308,341; 7,167,796;7,004,593; 7,657,052; and/or 6,678,614, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123),which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more otheraccessories at or within the mirror casing or otherwise associated withor near the mirror assembly, such as one or more electrical orelectronic devices or accessories, such as antennas, including globalpositioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detection system, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, transmittersand/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like, a digitalnetwork, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a high/lowheadlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video device forinternal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keylessentry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more otherlights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756;5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253;5,669,698;7,195,381; 6,971,775; 7,657,052; and/or 7,249,860,microphones, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377;and/or 6,420,975, speakers, antennas, including global positioningsystem (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,798,688, a voice recorder, a blind spot detection system, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786; 5,786,772; 7,492,281; 7,038,577and 6,882,287; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/315,675, filedDec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580; and/or Ser. No. 12/446,507,filed Apr. 21, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON09 P-1382), transmitters and/orreceivers, such as for a garage door opener or a vehicle door unlockingsystem or the like (such as a remote keyless entry system), a digitalnetwork, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a high/lowheadlamp controller, such as a camera-based headlamp control, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/781,119, filed May 17, 2010, a memorymirror system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, ahands-free phone attachment, an imaging system or components orcircuitry or display thereof, such as an imaging and/or display systemof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,881,496; 7,526,103;7,400,435; 6,690,268 and 6,847,487, and/or U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/508,840, filed Jul. 24, 2009 (Attorney Docket MAG04 P-1541); No.12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1564), an alertsystem, such as an alert system of the types described in PCTApplication No. PCT/US2010/25545, filed Feb. 26, 2010 and published onSep. 2, 2010 as International Publication No. WO 2010/099416, a videodevice for internal cabin surveillance (such as for sleep detection ordriver drowsiness detection or the like) and/or video telephonefunction, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or5,877,897, a remote keyless entry receiver, a seat occupancy detector, aremote starter control, a yaw sensor, a clock, a carbon monoxidedetector, status displays, such as displays that display a status of adoor of the vehicle, a transmission selection (4wd/2wd or tractioncontrol (TCS) or the like), an antilock braking system, a road condition(that may warn the driver of icy road conditions) and/or the like, atrip computer, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver (suchas described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,647; 6,294,989; 6,445,287;6,472,979; 6,731,205; and/or 7,423,522, and/or an ONSTAR® system, acompass, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594;4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, and/or any otheraccessory or circuitry or the like (with the disclosures of theabove-referenced patents and patent applications being herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exteriorrearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirror reflective elementcomprising: a front glass substrate having first and second surfaces; atransparent conductive coating established at said second surface; arear glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces; a metallicreflector coating established at said third surface; an electro-opticmedium disposed between said front and rear glass substrates, whereinsaid second surface of said front glass substrate faces saidelectro-optic medium and wherein said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate faces said electro-optic medium; an electrically conductiveclip bridging a perimeter edge of said rear glass substrate to establishelectrically conductive connection to said metallic reflector coating atsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate; a solder jointestablished at said electrically conductive clip; and wherein the solderis decoupled from said metallic reflector coating at said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate.
 2. The exterior mirror reflective elementof claim 1, wherein said third surface has an area devoid of saidmetallic reflector coating and wherein said area is at or near oradjacent to said solder joint to decouple the solder from said metallicreflector coating.
 3. The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 2,wherein at least one of (a) said area is masked during deposition ofsaid metallic reflector coating to establish said area devoid of saidmetallic reflector coating and (b) said metallic reflector coating islocally removed at said area to establish said area devoid of saidmetallic reflector coating.
 4. The exterior mirror reflective element ofclaim 1 further comprising a separating layer established at an area ofsaid third surface at or near or adjacent to said solder joint todecouple the solder from said metallic reflector coating.
 5. Theexterior mirror reflective element of claim 4, wherein said separatinglayer comprises a material that has reduced affinity to solder flow. 6.The exterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said clip isconfigured to limit flow of solder therethrough and therearound todecouple the solder from said metallic reflector coating.
 7. Theexterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein a wire issoldered to said clip at said solder joint.
 8. The exterior mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said metallic reflector coatingcomprises at least one of chromium and ruthenium.
 9. The exterior mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said metallic reflector coatingcomprises a material that has an affinity for solder flow.
 10. Theexterior mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said electricallyconductive clip comprises a ribbon connector that establishes electricalconnection to said third surface metallic reflector coating other thanwhere the third surface metallic reflector coating is locally removedfrom said third surface.
 11. An exterior mirror reflective element for avehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having first andsecond surfaces; a transparent conductive coating established at saidsecond surface; a rear glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces;a metallic reflector coating established at said third surface, whereinsaid metallic reflector coating comprises a material that has anaffinity for solder flow; an electro-optic medium disposed between saidfront and rear glass substrates, wherein said second surface of saidfront glass substrate faces said electro-optic medium and wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate faces said electro-opticmedium; an electrically conductive clip bridging a perimeter edge ofsaid rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductiveconnection to said metallic reflector coating at said third surface ofsaid rear glass substrate; a solder joint established at saidelectrically conductive clip; and wherein said third surface has an areadevoid of said metallic reflector coating and wherein said area is at ornear or adjacent to said solder joint to decouple the solder from saidmetallic reflector coating.
 12. The exterior mirror reflective elementof claim 11, wherein at least one of (a) said area is masked duringdeposition of said metallic reflector coating to establish said areadevoid of said metallic reflector coating and (b) said metallicreflector coating is locally removed at said area to establish said areadevoid of said metallic reflector coating.
 13. The exterior mirrorreflective element of claim 11, wherein said clip is configured to limitflow of solder therethrough and therearound to decouple the solder fromsaid metallic reflector coating.
 14. The exterior mirror reflectiveelement of claim 11, wherein said metallic reflector coating comprisesat least one of chromium and ruthenium.
 15. The exterior mirrorreflective element of claim 11, wherein a wire is soldered to said clipat said solder joint.
 16. An exterior mirror reflective element for avehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having first andsecond surfaces; a transparent conductive coating established at saidsecond surface; a rear glass substrate having third and fourth surfaces;a metallic reflector coating established at said third surface, whereinsaid metallic reflector coating comprises a material that has anaffinity for solder flow; an electrochromic medium disposed between saidfront and rear glass substrates, wherein said second surface of saidfront glass substrate faces said electrochromic medium and wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate faces said electrochromicmedium; an electrically conductive clip bridging a perimeter edge ofsaid rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductiveconnection to said metallic reflector coating at said third surface ofsaid rear glass substrate, wherein said electrically conductive clipcomprises a ribbon connector; a solder joint established at saidelectrically conductive clip; wherein said metallic reflector coating islocally removed from an area of said third surface such that said thirdsurface area is devoid of said metallic reflector coating and whereinsaid area is at or near or adjacent to said solder joint; wherein saidribbon connector establishes electrical connection to said third surfacemetallic reflector coating other than where the third surface metallicreflector coating is locally removed from said third surface; andwherein, when said exterior mirror reflective element is attached at anactuator of said exterior rearview mirror assembly, said exterior mirrorreflective element is movable by said actuator to adjust an exteriorrearward field of view of the driver of the vehicle equipped with saidexterior rearview mirror assembly.
 17. The exterior mirror reflectiveelement of claim 16, wherein said exterior mirror reflective element isat least partially encompassed by a bezel.
 18. The exterior mirrorreflective element of claim 16, wherein a wire is soldered to saidribbon connector at said solder joint.
 19. The exterior mirrorreflective element of claim 16, wherein said metallic reflector coatingcomprises at least one of chromium and ruthenium.